WHY 5V5 SOCCER? SMALL SIDED GAMES ARE BETTER

Cool Amateur Soccer Event Open to All Male and Female Players

Soccer News: The World Soccer Fives USA is a multi-city tournament to find the best amateur 5-a-side soccer team in the United States to represent the USA in the F5WC World Finals in 2016.

With small sided games, all the players are involved in the action. Faster action, more emphasis on the speed of play and a lot more touches on the ball, small sided games are heralded for player development and their sheer fun. Here is the scoop on what makes 5v5 so great and behind the scene tips on the upcoming tournament.

Five-a-side soccer got its start in the United Kingdom among average people, in neighborhoods and streets. What started as pickup games got formalized and has become incredibly popular and is now spreading in the U.S. Five-a-side soccer is a smaller version of the game, featuring four outfield players and a goalie on a smaller pitch with smaller goals and a reduced game duration. There are some differences in the rules, such as a semi-circular penalty area, no offside rules, no headers, and limiting goalkeeper kicks to saves (not to give the ball out to another player).

The 2015 World Soccer Fives event was a huge success with Team Illinois winning an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai to represent the USA at the 2015 F5WC world finals. Over 50,000 players entered the 2014/15 qualifying events across the USA. The winners from each of the 32 states won an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago and a chance to play in Dubai. The event was broadcast on ESPN to millions of viewers across the country who were captivated with the 2-day event.

But why 5 a side soccer? GoalNation asked Charles Stephenson, Director at World Soccer Fives USA.

Charles Stephenson: I grew up in England like millions of other soccer fanatics eating, breathing and sleeping soccer. I played at school, after school and on weekends basically whenever I had free time from the early age of 5. Soccer around the world has been a part of every young mans life at some point and is why it’s the no.1 sport played and watched globally.When you are young you make do with what you have around you, you play whenever you can with as many friends as you can, due to these variables we grew up always playing small sided soccer. Sometimes we played 1 person in goal with just 2×2; sometimes we were lucky to have 5×5, but whichever it was we had fun.

Diane Scavuzzo: How popular are small-sided games around the world? U.S. Soccer is recommending small-sided games but some coaches, parents and players are resisting the emphasis.

Charles Stephenson: Small-sided soccer is the most played version of the game globally which may come as a shock to many but if you think about the reasons why it will come as no surprise.

Getting fewer players, a smaller playing area, and having a shorter game are all reasons that organizing a small-sided game is easier. Now throw in that any age can play, the games are more exciting with more action and also can fit many peoples busy schedule and you come up with these smaller sided games.

Diane Scavuzzo: 5v5 is a great tool for player development, right?

Charles Stephenson: Many coaches and professional clubs around the planet see the small sided game as a great way to coach the techniques needed for the traditional 11×11 games.

Players learn how important the first touch is playing 5v5, and a player’s first touch has always been the way to spot a great player in the professional ranks.

Small-sided soccer lends itself to short one touch passes in triangles with the emphasis on movement. 5×5 soccer games ensure good movement in a confined space and this is imperative for player development.

We all know that the USA is behind the rest of the world in terms of soccer history, playing or watching but times are changing. Never has there been a time in the US where more youngsters are watching and playing soccer, not to mention the huge improvement and success of the men’s and women’s national teams. Jürgen Klinsmann has even talked about the benefits of the small-sided games during his time as the national coach here in the US.

One of the reasons we started the F5WC (Football Fives World Championship) was the popularity of the 5×5 games around the world, we have had an incredible response globally running qualifying in over 48 countries over the past 3 years with the world finals being played in Dubai and now for 2016 in Thailand.The USA national qualifying for the World Soccer 5’s will be will be held in Las Vegas in February 2016. The winners in Las Vegas will receive an all-expense-paid trip to go on to represent the USA in Bangkok, Thailand. The 2016 tournament is open to any player over the age of 16, in line with the F5WC global event. This is an amateur event and is open to all male and female soccer players that do not currently have a signed professional soccer contract.

It’s easy to see why a smaller team and smaller playing area makes for a fast, exciting game—the players get more time with the ball, higher scoring, and a lot of fun!

Go online for more information or to register as in individual or team.